IBM boasts that one Mainframe can consolidate 1.500 x86 servers. But this assumes all x86 servers are idling at a few percent and the Mainframe be fully loaded at 100%. In the same vein, I can claim that my laptop can consolidate 10 x86 servers - if they idle. But no one would believe my laptop could do the job of 10 of the x86 servers.

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It is also well known that 1MIPS Mainframe == 4MHz x86 CPU.

http://www.mail-archive.com/linux-390@vm.marist.edu/msg18587.html

These figures are from 2003, when Pentium 4 roamed the earth.

For the new Intel Nehalem which is maybe twice as strong, the updated figures would be 1MIPS == 2MHz x86 CPU. This means that a 10.000MIPS CPU is equivalent to a 20GHz single core x86 Nehalem = 5 GHz Quad Core x86 CPU Nehalem. In other words, the Mainframe CPU sucks badly performance wise. You are better off with one overclocked Nehalem, or two standard Nehalems. I wonder if the Nehalem is cheaper than a IBM 10.000MIPS cpu?

In fact, you can emulate a Mainframe with the program "Herkules" on your laptop. Here is more information about Linux x86 servers vs IBM mainframes:

http://blogs.sun.com/jsavit/entry/once_again_mainframe_linux_vs

One word - "throughput".

Do you really think that raw processor speed is a meaningful indicator of performance in this market?

yes everyone knows that Mainframes have good I/O. But that doesnt help to consolidate 1500 x86 servers when they start some work. I call IBMs claim a bluff.

Anybody wants to buy my laptop? I can consolidate 10 x86 servers on it. I will charge only 10.000USD. A bargain! Come on! Email me. But dont expect it to allow all x86 servers to do some work.